Stasimon 4
[Episode]
a barbarian’s weak pleading and reject his marriage with thee for this. For thou wast no captive from Troy whom he wedded, but the daughter of a gallant sire, with a rich dower, from a city too of no mean prosperity. Nor will thy father forsake thee, as thou dreadest,
870
Nurse
and allow thee to be cast out from this house. Nay, enter now, nor show thyself before the palace, lest the sightNauck regards line 878 as spurious. of thee there bring reproach upon thee, my daughter. Exit Nurse.
875
Chorus
Lo! a stranger of foreign appearance from some other land
comes hurrying towards us.
880
Orestes
Ladies of this foreign land! is this the home, the palace of Achilles’ son?
Chorus
Thou hast it; but who art thou to ask such a question?
Orestes
The son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra,
by name Orestes, on my way to the oracle of Zeus at Dodona. But now that I am come to Phthia, I am resolved to inquire about my kinswoman, Hermione of Sparta; is she alive and well? for though
885
she dwells in a land far from my own, I love her none the less.
890
Hermione
Son of Agamemnon, thy appearing is as a haven from the storm to sailors; by thy knees I pray, have pity on me in my distress, on me of whose fortunes thou art inquiring. About thy knees
I twine my arms with all the force of sacred fillets.
895
Orestes
Ha! what is this? Am I mistaken or do I really see before me the queen of this palace, the daughter of Menelaus?
Hermione
The same, that only child whom Helen, daughter of Tyndareus, bore my father in his halls; never doubt that.
Orestes
O saviour Phoebus, grant us respite from our woe! But what is the matter? art thou afflicted by gods or men?
900
Hermione
Partly by myself, partly by the man who wedded me, and partly by some god. On every side I see ruin.
Orestes
Why, what misfortune could happen to a woman as yet childless,
unless her honour is concerned?
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Hermione
My very complaint! Thou hast hit my case exactly.
Orestes
On whom has thy husband set his affections in thy stead?
Hermione
On his captive, Hector’s wife.
